New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson wants Jeremy Lin back, non-committal on starting role – NBA Update
The New York Knicks bowed out in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with star point guard Jeremy Lin injured and unable to participate. Lin has had a huge impact on the team since breaking out this NBA season and therefore it wasn’t a surprise that the Knicks struggled against the Miami Heat without him.
It is also not a surprise that Mike Woodson wants the player back next season, but the Knicks head coach would not commit to his role in the team. Jeremy is out of a contract this summer but is widely expected to resign with New York.
According to the rules of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, Jeremy can only be offered the mid-level exception by other sides and New York have the option of matching that, therefore putting them in pole position for his services
Jeremy has already said that he would love to keep playing for New York and Mike Woodson has revealed that the team absolutely wants him back. When it came to giving Jeremy a starting role though, Woodson didn’t want to make promises just yet.
"Jeremy's a big part of our team, and will he start? Only time will tell," Woodson told reporters Thursday.
Lin burst onto the scene earl in the year when he revived the fortunes of a flailing Knicks side, in the absence of super stars Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. Although he became an overnight sensation, he was not able to sustain his peak for long and an injured knee ended his season prematurely.
Woodson believes that the young player needs to get healthy first, and then use the summer to iron out some deficiencies in his game. That should be the first concern as Lin has plenty of potential.
"He's still got to recover from his knee and use this summer to really work on his game to put himself in the best position possible for our ballclub. He has started for our team and he has played well for our basketball team. But this summer will be very pivotal for him in terms of his improvement, and the future's very bright for him."
Jeremy meanwhile didn’t appear to be too bothered with his role in the team. The point guard knows he was lucky to be ever given such an extended run in the first place and now that he has established himself, he would be happy as long as he could help the team.
"It just depends on the team," Lin said Thursday. "Coming off the bench versus starting, that means something, but it doesn't mean that much. There are guys who play pivotal roles who come off the bench"
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